Rumored Leaked Picture of Canon's 7D
There’s been a lot of activity on the varying camera forums the past few days. Recently www.dpreview.com had over ten different threads started regarding a leaked spec brochure and pictures of the new 7D. I can’t personally comment on whether or not those “leaked” pictures are legit or not, or whether the rumored specs are valid. I can however, voice my opinion on a few of the rumors that have been swirling around like dust in the wind. Many are suggesting that this new camera will feature a full frame sensor in it. I disagree with this belief for many reasons.
1. Economically speaking, it doesn’t make sense – Canon already has a feature full frame offering in the Canon 5D MK II that was released just last fall. To release another full frame camera means one of the two things. Either this new camera would have to be priced above the Canon 5D MK II or below it. If its to be priced below the Canon 5D MK II then I have to wonder why anyone would want to buy the Canon 5d MK II any longer since this alleged camera seems so much better in most (but not all) ways. A full frame camera priced between the Canon 5d MK II would only serve to cannibalize Canon’s own existing sales. Those who would purchase the current Canon 50D would probably just spend the extra few hundred to reach into a Full Frame sensor. The Canon 5D MK II which currently is selling out all over the country would probably lose a great deal of that consumer interest to a cheaper Full frame offering. On the other hand, if the new 7D is priced above the 5D MK II then I can’t see many consumers chomping at the bit to pick it up based on its alleged specs.
2. The “Leaked” pictures feature the camera with EF-S lenses mounted - The pictures leaked on the chinese camera forum clearly showed EF-S lenses attached to the camera body. If these pictures are real (I have my doubts), then that would be clearly at odds with everything Canon has stated publicly regarding their EF-S lens and their Full Frame cameras. For a long time now Canon has stated that it is impossible to mount an EF-S lens on their full frame cameras. Now some of the crowd may decry with righteous indignation that “Nikon cameras mount DX lenses to their full frame bodies why couldn’t Canon?” Well, yes, the Nikon FF cameras can mount DX lenses but anyone who has used that kind of combination will tell you that the results are not optimal. (6mp on the D700 anyone?) The purpose of a full frame camera is primarily to lose the crop effect, why would you force your camera to regain it?
The news regarding the alleged Canon 7D started popping up all over the net, one of the popular blogging sites it appeared at was: http://www.neutralday.com/pictures-and-specifications-of-the-canon-eos-7d/
Some of the recapped features of this alleged camera:
Let’s talk about these leaked photos and specs. First, I question the validity of these leaked specs. 8 FPS? That’s an unusually high count for any camera without some sort of battery grip assist. If that stat is legit and valid then I really can’t imagine Canon pricing it anywhere below the Canon 5d MK II. Also the purported 18 Megapixels would seem to indicate that this is an entirely new sensor offering or that somehow Canon squeezed an extra 3 megapixels out of the Canon 50D sensor. I don’t really see either of those possibilities as too realistic. I suppose, however, its possible the sensor is a new offering and if so it would make sense to release it in a new model number (ala 7D) but I strongly feel it will not be a full frame camera priced anywhere below the 5d MK II. I could, of course, be wrong and if so I will leave this editorial so all can see how wrong I was. Only time will tell exactly what the latest offering from Canon will be but my instinct tells me this recent “leak” is a fraud.
